Wild west performer to headline at horse show

The 57th annual Germantown Charity Horse Show (GCHS) will open next Tuesday, June 8 at the local horse show grounds for what is expected to be the biggest and best event ever.

Since 1948 the annual event, one of the oldest and largest multi-breed shows in the country, has brought many thousands of visitors to Germantown. The five-day show attracts some 40,000 spectators and some 800 Hunter/Jumpers, American Saddlebacks, Hackney Ponies, Roadsters, Tennessee Walking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horses.

This year's show will feature a fine entertainment act. Internationally known rodeo and wild west performer Max Reynolds will perform Wednesday through Friday nights in the main arena, with a speed racking exhibition on Tuesday and Saturday nights. Reynolds, three times nominated the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Specialty Act of the Year, spins his two six-shooters with amazing agility, cracks his two bullwhips at the same time with uneering accuracy, and rides his two horse Roman riding team, known as the Silver Bullets, at the same time, defying death with skill and courage.

Reynolds calls Lexington, Nebraska home, but he has traveled the world performing at such recognized events as National Finals Rodeo; Dodge National Circuit Finals, The Original Coors Rodeo Showcase and many others.

A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Reynolds performed his roman riding team act in the 1995 CBS television mini series, "Buffalo Girls," where he performed as Buffalo Bill's stunt double. Reynolds also performs a rope-spinning act in which black lights are sometimes used to transform his costume and ropes into a glowing performance.

In addition to the traditional rodeo acts that the public has come to expect, Reynolds says he gives them a taste of the Wild West in addition.

"I try to give them what they expect in a western show and something more so that they will remember their trip to the rodeo for a long, long time."

Reynolds and his team will perform several death-defying stunts, among them an incredible jump through a ring of fire.

The horse show starts Tuesday, June 7 at 8 a.m. with Hunter/Jumper classes daily during the day and other classes competing nightly, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The show will climax on Saturday, June 11 with the $25,000 Sun Trust Grand Prix of Germantown and other championship classes.

Other popular events during the action-filled week include the Rachael Smith Memorial Costume Class on Tuesday night and the children's stick horse class on Saturday night.

Dogs of all breeds and sizes are also invited to take part in a race for chairity, as The River City Jack Russell Terrier Club teams up with the horse show to host a race on Saturday afternoon.

Jimmy Chancellor, this year's president of the Germantown Chairity Horse Show Association, says the 57th annual show should be great. "We have finished renovating the last barn, and we now have 265 permanent stalls," he said. "We have all worked hard, and this includes the 150 volunteers who work year round to put the show on each June. Your presence at the show with make their work worth while."

This year's charity to benefit from the event is the Exchange Club Family Center, which works to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the horse show grounds on Melanie Smith Lane, off Poplar Pike in Old Germantown.

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Wild west performer to headline at horse show

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